Tool for changing fluorescent lamp tubes



Nov. 10, 1953 c. H. ZIESE 2,658,787

TOOL FOR CHANIGING FLUORESCENT LAMP TUBES Filed Sept. 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l jii ii I INVENTOR.

CarlfiiZiese C. H. ZIESE TOOL FOR CHANGING FLUORESCENT LAMP TUBES Nqv.10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1952 INV NTOR. CarZJ'Z'. Ziese,

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL FOR CHANGINGFLUORESCENT LAMP TUBES Carl H: Ziese, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application September 9, 1952, SerialNo. 308,612

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices or tools for changing light tubes influorescent light fixtures and more particularly to a tool for changingtubes in a. ceiling mounted fixture by an operator standing on the floorbelow the fixture.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved, lighttube changing tool which can be held by ancperator standing on a floorand used to remove a light tube from or insert a light tube into afixture mounted on a ceiling above the floor; which is of rigid andlight weight construction, so that it is easy to handle and efiicient inremoving or replacing the tubes; which is effective to impart rotationalmovement to a tube as the tube is removed from or inserted into theassociated fixture: which firmly grasps the tube during the insertion orremoval thereof and while the tube, is being moved into or away fromthefixture; and which is simple and durable in construction, economicalto manufacture, easy to use, and positive and efiective in operation.

Gther objects-andadvantages of the invention willbecome apparent from aconsideration of the following description andthe appendedclaims inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side orfrontelevational view of a light tube changing toolillustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is aside elevational view of the tool with thetool-rotatedthrough an angle of approximately ninety degrees from the positionillustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view onthe line 33' of Figure1;

Figure i is a view similar toFigure 2, but with partsbrokenaway andshown in cross section to better illustrate the construction of the tooland with: the components of the tool in a difierent operative positionfrom that illustrated inFiguse 2;

Figurefitis a transverse cross sectional view on the line 5,-5 ofl'igure i;

Figure 6 isa fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged-scale ontheline 6-B-of Figure Figure 7 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view onthe line 1-'| of'Figure 6".

With continued reference to the drawings; the numeral Ill generallydesignates: an elongated, tubular handle the length of which is such asto enable an operator standing on a floor below a ceiiing supportedfluorescent light fixture to hold the handle at one end of the tool andeasily reach 2t with the other end of the tool a light tube mounted in aceiling supported fixture above the operator. The handle includestubular portions I! and I2 each of a length less than the total lengthof the handle disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other withone end of the portion I l telescopically received in the adjacent endof the portion 12; The handle portion l2 is cut away in its side at theend thereof receiving the associatedend of the portion l I-, asindicated at I3, and a lug 14 projects outwardly from the side of theportion H within the opening [3 provided in the adjacent part of theportion l2., A hand lever 15 is pivotally mounted on the lug I l andincludes a U-shaped or hairpin shaped leg It closed at one end andhaving its'sides at the open end thereof disposed atrespectivelyopposite sides of the lug l4- and pivotally connected to the lug by apivot pin ll. Longitudinallycurved legs [8 and I9 extend perpendicularlyfrom the sides 20 and?! of the lever leg l6 part1y around the tubularhandle and are pivotally connected at their outer ends to the handleportion 12 at respectively opposite sides of the open-- ing It in thisportion by suitable pivot pins or rivets 22 and 23;

The lever leg It extends along the handleportion H in spaced relation tothis handle portion and, when this leg It is moved toward the handleportion H the handle is elongated for a purpose to be presentlydisclosed, and-when the leg I6 is released to move away from thehandleportion ll, thehandle will be shortened.

A hollow housing 25'is provided on the handle portion H at the end ofthis handle portion remote from the portion [2 and extends symmetricallyto opposite sides of the handle portion II. This housing has an open endof elongated, rectangular shape at the corresponding end of the handle,and bearing sleeves Z6: and 27 are mounted on one longitudinal edge ofthe housing at the open end thereof in spaced apart relationship andlongitudinal alignment with each other. An outer shaft, generallyindicated at 28, extends through andis rotatable in the sleeves26 and 2!andthis-shaft hasits ends substantially equally spaced from-the centerof the open end of the housing 25.

The outer shaft 28 includes tubular members 29 and 30 rotatablyreceivedinthe bearingsleeves 26 and 2'! respectively, and disposed inlongitudinal alignment with each other with the inner or adjacent endsspaced together anda U-sh-aped strut 3| extending acrossthe spacebetween-the adjacent ends of thetubular members Mend-30 and joined atits opposite ends to these members adjacent the inner ends of themembers to secure the tubular members 29 and 30 rigidly together forsimultaneous and coextensive rotational movements.

Longitudinally curved fingers 32 and 33 project perpendicularly from theouter shaft 28, one at each end of this outer shaft. These fingers 32and 33 are curved to fit arounda fluorescent light tube 34 and arecovered with a resilient material, such as rubber, so that they canfirmly engage the tube without causing any damage thereto.

An inner shaft 35 extends through and is rotatable in the tubularmembers 29 and 30 of the outer shaft 28 and projects at its ends fromthe corresponding ends of the outer shaft. Longitudinally curved fingers3E and 31 project perpendicularly from the inner shaft 35, one at eachalso concavely opposed to each other to firmly Y grasp a fluorescentlight tube between the opposed fingers, as illustrated in Figure 3.

A torsion spring 38 surrounds the inner shaft 35 between the adjacentends of the outer shaft portions 29 and 30 and is connected at one endto the inner shaft and at its outer end to the outer shaft toresiliently urge the inner and outer shafts to rotate relative to eachother in a manner to move the fingers on either of these shafts awayfrom the fingers on the other shaft, and cable sheaves 4i) and H arealso mounted on the inner shaft 35 between the adjacent ends of theouter shaft portions 29 and 30. The cable sheave til is the common axisof the inner and outer shafts 35 assays? and 29 and cable sheaves 43 and44 are mounted on this axle within the handle portion I2.

A cable. 65 is secured at one end to the cable sheave 40 and extendsthrough the handle it and is secured at its other end to the cablesheave 43. A similar cable 46 is secured at one end to the cable sheave4| and also extends through the handle I0 substantially parallel to thecable 45. The cable 46 is secured at its other end to the cable sheave44 on the axle 42 and the cables and 46 extend around the correspondingsheaves 40 and 4| at respectively opposite sides of the inner shaft 35and around the cable sheaves 42 and 44 at respectively opposite sides ofthe axle 42.

In the arrangement illustrated, the cable 45 extends around the sheaves4t and 42 at one side of the common plane of the axes of the axle t2 andshafts 25 and 35 and the portion of this cable between the sheaves 4Dand 42 is disposed at the same side of the plane, while the cable itextends around the sides of the sheaves 4! and 44 at the opposite sideof the common plane of the axes of the axle 42 and shafts 29 and 35 andthe portion .4 of this cable is spaced from the side of this planeopposite that from which the cable 45 is spaced. The cables 45 and 46extend around the sheaves 20 and 4| in directions such that when thehandle i0 is elongated by forcing the leg it of the lever [5 toward thehandle, the shafts 29 and 35 are rotated relative to each other in amanner to move the fingers on one of the shafts toward the fingers onthe other shaft to firmly grasp a fluorescent light tube 34 between theopposed fingers. A selected light tube can thus be firmly grasped by thetool by first positioning the tool so that the light tube is disposedbetween the oprposed fingers and then manually forcing the leg E6 of thelever I5 toward the handle of the tool.

A handwheel 48 is secured on the axle 62 at one end of the axle andoutside of the handle portion l2. When the axle 32 is manually rotatedby the handwheel 48, one of the cables 5 or 46 will be tensioned and theother slackened, causing the shafts 29 and 35 to rotate in one directionor the other.

After a light tube has been grasped between the opposed fingers in themanner indicated above, with the tube in position to enter or leave theassociated sockets at the opposite ends of the tube upon rotation of thetube through a predetermined angle, the handwheel 48 is turned in theproper direction and the tool raised to cause the shafts 2t and 35 tofollow the rotational movement imparted to the tube. In removing a tubefrom the associated fixture, after the tube has been rotated to theproper extent, a downward pull on the handle while holding the handwheel48 against movement, will pull the tube out of the associated socketsand, in inserting a tube, after the tube has been inserted in thesockets, a rotational movement of the handwheel 53 will rotate the tubesufficiently to lock it in the sockets whereupon the lever I5 is movedto release the tube grasping fingers from the tube and the tool isremoved from the tube.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departingfrom the spring or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come withirf the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embracedtherein. s '1 What is claimed is:

14A tool for changing light tubes in ceiling mounted fixtures by anoperator standing on a floor below a ceiling mounted fixturecomprisingan enlongated tubular handle including longitu-i dinallyextending portions telescopically asso ciated with each otherintermediate the length of the handle, a hollow housing extending toopposite sides of the handle at one end of the latter and having an openouter end, spaced apart bearing sleeves mounted on said housing andextending longitudinally of the outer end thereof, an outer shaftextending through and rotatable in said bearing sleeves and includingtubular members disposed in end to end relationship and longitudinalalignment with each other with their adjacent ends spaced apart and aU-shaped strut rigidly connecting said tubular, members together attheir adjacent inner ends, longitudinally curved fingers projectingperpen dicularly from said outer shaft one at each end thereof, an innershaft extending through said outer shaft and rotatable therein,longitudinally curved fingers projecting perpendicularly from said innershaft one at each end of the latter and operatively opposed to thecorresponding fingers on said outer shaft for grasping a light tubebetween the fingers on said outer shaft and the fingers on said innershaft, a spring connected between said inner and outer shaftsresiliently urging the fingers on one of said shafts away from thecorresponding fingers on the other of said shafts, cable sheaves mountedon said inner shaft between the adjacent ends of the tubular portions ofsaid outer shaft and connected one to said inner shaft and one to saidouter shaft, a sheave axle extending transversely through and journaledin said handle at the end of the latter remote from said housing, cablesheaves mounted on said axle and disposed within said tubular handle, afirst cable connected at one end to one of said sheaves on said innershaft and at its other end to one of the sheaves on said axle, a secondcable connected at one end to the other sheave on said inner shaft andat its other end to the other sheave on said axle, said inner and outershafts and said axle having their rotational axes substantially in acommon plane and said cables extending around the sides of thecorresponding sheaves at respectively opposite sides of said plane andhaving their portions between the associated sheaves disposed entirelyat the corresponding opposite sides of said plane and extending aroundthe sheaves on said inner shaft in a manner such as to move the fingerson either of said shafts toward the fingers on the other of said shaftswhen said cables are subjected to tension by elongation of said handle,a hand lever pivotally mounted intermediate its length on one of thetubular portions of said sandle at the end of said one portionintermediate the length of said handle and connected at one end to theother tubular portion of said handle for elongating said handle whensubjected to manual pressure, and a handwheel on said axle outside ofsaid handle for simultaneously rotating said axle and both of saidshafts to impart rotational movements to a light tube grasped by saidfingers.

2. A tool for changing fluorescent light tubes comprising an elongatedadjustable length handle, manually operated means mounted on andconnected to said handle for elongating the latter, coaxial inner andouter shafts extending transversely of said handle at one end thereof,means supporting said shafts on said handle for rotational movements ofthe shafts relative to the handle and relative to each other, tubegrasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from saidshafts one at each end of each shaft with the fingers on one shaftoperatively opposed to the corresponding fingers on the other shaft tograsp a light tube therebetween, a. manually rotatable axle extendingtransversely of and journaled in said handle at a location spaced fromsaid shafts, sheaves mounted one on each of said shafts, sheaves mountedon said axle, and means extending along said handle between said axleand said shafts and connecting each shaft carried sheave to acorresponding axle carried sheave in a manner to oppositely rotate saidshafts upon elongation of said handle and move the fingers on one shafttoward the fingers on the other shaft to grasp a light tube 6 betweenthe opposed fingers, said shafts being movable in the same rotationaldirection by rotational movement of said axle to turn a light tubegrasped by said fingers.

3. A tool for changing fluorescent light tubes comprising an elongatedadjustable length handle, manually operated means mounted on andconnected to said handle for elongating the latter, coaxial inner andouter shafts extending transversely of said handle at one end thereof,means supporting said shafts on said handle for rotational movements ofthe shafts relative to the handle and relative to each other, tubegrasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from saidshafts one at each end of each shaft with the fingers on one shaftoperatively opposed to the corresponding fingers on the other shaft tograsp a light tube therebetween, a manually rotatable axle extendingtransversely of and journaled in said handle at a location spaced fromsaid shafts, sheaves mounted one on each of said shafts, sheaves mountedon said axle, means extending along said handle between said axle andsaid shafts and connecting each shaft carried sheave to a correspondingaxle carried sheave in a manner to oppositely rotate said shafts uponelongation of said handle and move the fingers on one shaft toward thefingers on the other shaft to grasp a light tube between the opposedfingers, said shafts being movable in the same rotational direction byrotational movement of said axle to turn a light tube grasped by saidfingers, and spring means connected between said shafts resilientlyurging said shafts to rotate in opposite directions to move the fingerson one shaft away from the fingers on the other shaft.

4. A tool for changing fluorescent light tubes comprising an elongatedadjustable length handle, manually operated means mounted on andconnected to said handle for elongating the latter, coaxial inner andouter shafts extending transversely of said handle at one end thereof,means supporting said'shafts on said handle for rotational movements ofthe shafts relative to the handle and relative to each other, tubegrasping fingers projecting substantially perpendicularly from saidshafts one at each end i of each shaft with the fingers on one shaftoperatively opposed to the corresponding fingers on the other shaft tograsp a light tube therebetween, a manually rotatable axle extendingtransversely of and journaled in said handle at a location spaced fromsaid shafts, sheaves mounted one on each of said shafts, sheaves mountedon said axle, means extending along said handle between said axle andsaid shafts and connecting each shaft carried sheave to a correspondingaxle carried sheave in a manner to oppositely rotate said shafts uponelongation of said handle and move the fingers on one shaft toward thefingers on the other shaft to grasp a light tube between the opposedfingers, said shafts being movable in the same rotational direction byrotational movement of said axle to turn a light tube grasped by saidfingers, and said handle comprising elongated tubular memberstelescopically associated intermediate the length of the handle and ahollow housing formed on one of said members at the end thereof remotefrom the other member.

CARL H. ZIESE.

No references cited.

